Fix a natural number, $n \geq 1$. Consider the class, M, of all sets hereditarily ordinal-definable using some $\Sigma_n$ formula. Since there is a universal $\Sigma_n$ formula, M is definable. Is M necessarily a model of ZF? It seems to me that it is closed under Godel operations and almost universal for the same reasons that HOD is, and therefore a model of ZF. But I feel like I'm missing something, since I've never heard anything about this model.

If it is a model of ZF, where can I learn more about it? Has anybody done any research about it? How does it relate to HOD?

Note: I require $n \geq 1$ because the formula witnessing that HOD is almost universal is $\Sigma_1$.

I agree about $\Sigma_2$ but not about the reason. The quantifier $\exists\gamma$ isn't relevant, since you're allowed an ordinal parameter (like $\gamma$) anyway. I think the relevant formula defining $x\in A$ is $\exists z\,(z=V_\gamma \land z\models\phi(x,\alpha)$. The clause $z=V_\gamma$ here is $\Pi_1$, so the whole formula is $\Sigma_2$.
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Andreas BlassAug 13 '11 at 3:46

In my preceding comment, add a final parenthesis to the "relevant formula", so that it's a formula.
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Andreas BlassAug 13 '11 at 3:48